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Largest global survey analyzing healthcare leaders, Philips’ Future Health Index 2021 report reveals APAC’s ambitions for digital transformation, but staff shortages and inexperience could hinder progress

  • Findings indicate that APAC’s healthcare leaders are championing predictive analytics, but staff’s lack of experience with new technologies is impeding planning for more than half
  • Anticipation of care delivery outside the hospital in the future, but some in the region are not prioritizing virtual care now
  • Largest global survey of its kind features critical insights from almost 3,000 healthcare leaders across 14 countries on meeting the demands of today and their vision for healthcare three years from now

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 May 2021 – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the publication of its Future Health Index (FHI) 2021 report: ‘A Resilient Future: Healthcare leaders look beyond the crisis’. Now in its sixth year, the Future Health Index 2021 report is based on proprietary research across 14 countries, including the APAC region (Australia, China, India, and Singapore), representing the largest global survey of its kind to analyze the current and future priorities of healthcare leaders worldwide.

Feedback from healthcare leaders – including executive officers, financial officers, technology and information officers, operating officers and more – explores the challenges they have faced since the onset of the pandemic, and where their current and future priorities lie, revealing a new vision for the future of healthcare. With a focus on patient-centred healthcare enabled by smart technology, their vision is shaped by a fresh emphasis on partnerships, sustainability and new models of care delivery, both inside and outside the hospital.

A mixed outlook

According to Philips’ report, nearly three quarters (72%) of APAC healthcare leaders are confident in their hospital or healthcare facility’s ability to deliver quality healthcare in the next three years. Although this is overwhelmingly positive after the challenges of the pandemic, APAC’S confidence levels are slightly below the average (75%) healthcare leader across the 14 countries that Philips surveyed.

The Future Health Index 2021 report also reveals significant differences in optimism across the APAC region, with many more healthcare leaders in Singapore (84%) feeling confident, compared to those in China (58%) and Australia (66%).

“APAC’s healthcare systems have all shown resilience in their responses to the pandemic, however when it comes to confidence about the future, we’re seeing a mixed picture – with Singapore pulling ahead of other countries across Asia,” said Caroline Clarke, Market Leader and EVP, Philips ASEAN Pacific. “While crisis response will continue to be a priority for many healthcare leaders in the months ahead, it is important that they look to the future too, to ensure that they don’t fall behind in technology upgrades and progress towards healthcare digitization.”

Increased anticipation of care delivery outside the hospital, but some in region failing to prioritize virtual care now

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated radical shifts in care delivery for both patients and providers around the world and the Future Health Index 2021 report reveals that, as APAC’s healthcare leaders consider what comes next, many are pragmatic about where and how care is delivered.

APAC’s healthcare leaders expect that, three years from now, on average around a quarter (25%) of routine care delivery will take place outside the walls of a hospital or healthcare facility, up from 22% today.

Despite this, prioritization of virtual care is patchy across the region. Healthcare leaders in India are among the most likely of all countries surveyed to currently prioritize a shift to remote/virtual care (75%) – well ahead of the average healthcare leader response across the 14 countries surveyed (42%). However, countries in the rest of region are lagging behind with only around four in ten in Singapore (40%), around one in three in China (32%) and about one in four in Australia (27%) making it a current priority.

The fall-out of dealing with COVID-19 could be what is distracting APAC’s healthcare leaders from making remote/virtual care a greater focus, with more than half (60%) saying that preparing to respond to crises is their primary priority right now and 58% citing the pandemic as the main external factor that is impeding their ability to plan for the future.

There are also regional disparities in terms of how and where virtual care will be delivered in the future. Singapore is blazing the trail for shifting routine care from hospitals to home settings – while those surveyed in Singapore said that just 19% of routine care being provided outside of the hospital is currently delivered in the home, they predict that 45% will be delivered at home three years from now, a bold target which is far higher than the APAC[1] average (18%).

By comparison, despite healthcare leaders overwhelmingly prioritizing a shift to remote/virtual care in India, only 5% see the home as a prominent location for routine care delivery there three years from now. Instead, most feel that ambulatory primary care centers like urgent care and walk-in clinics (57%) and out-of-hospital procedural environments like ambulatory surgical centers and office-based labs (33%) will be the focus in India.

Predictive analytics a major focus for the future, but skills gaps must be addressed first

APAC’s healthcare leaders are second only to healthcare leaders in Europe when it comes to championing predictive analytics; 27% of APAC healthcare leaders agree that their hospital or healthcare facility needs to invest in implementing predictive technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to be prepared for the future. This is behind Europe’s 36% but far above the Middle East & Africa’s 6%.

The investment in AI by APAC healthcare leaders is currently focused primarily on administrative tasks like automating documentation, scheduling appointments, and improving workflow, above clinical and diagnostic applications. However, this looks set to change in the near future as APAC’s healthcare leaders look to invest in AI to predict outcomes (33%), integrate diagnostics (33%) and for clinical decision support (26%) in three years.

Despite these ambitions, staff inexperience and staff shortages could impede progress, if not urgently addressed. Staff’s lack of experience with new technologies ranks among the top internal barriers impeding their ability to prepare for the future, with about half of APAC’s healthcare leaders (51%) citing it as a current impediment, whilst around one in four (26%) say that staff shortages are holding them back.

Lack of training is also cited as one of the biggest barriers to the wider adoption of digital health technologies by nearly one third (30%), as are difficulties with data management (41%), likely relating to high volumes of data and a lack of clarity around ownership.

“The pandemic has confirmed the viability of remote care but dealing with the current crisis could be preventing many of APAC’s healthcare leaders from prioritizing this as much as they otherwise would. Likewise, staff inexperience and skill shortages risk hindering further digitization in the region if not urgently addressed. It is vital that APAC’s healthcare leaders invest in the right training to move beyond purely administrative applications of these game-changing technologies to unlock their full potential in the future,” added Caroline Clarke.

Industry poised for unprecedented move on sustainability

Philips’ Future Health Index 2021 report also finds that implementing environmental sustainability practices is set to become a dominant trend in APAC, and across the 14 countries surveyed, within the next three years.

While not a current concern for many, 49% of APAC’s healthcare leaders expect to prioritize the implementation of sustainability practices in their hospital or healthcare facility three years from now, up from just 5% today.

Since 2016, Philips has conducted original research to help determine the readiness of countries to address global health challenges and build efficient and effective health systems. For details on the Future Heath methodology and to access the Future Health Index 2021 report in its entirety, visit: https://www.philips.com.sg/a-w/about/news/future-health-index/reports/2021/healthcare-leaders-look-beyond-the-crisis.html.



[1] APAC countries surveyed for FHI 2021: Australia, China, India, Singapore

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

#Philips

Chubb report reveals the risk and uncertainty faced by small and mid-sized businesses as they increasingly conduct business digitally

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 6 May 2021 – Chubb has released a new report, “Digital Business Accelerated,” which explores how small and mid-sized businesses are managing their digital transformation – a transition that has accelerated in the wake of COVID-19.

Chubb partnered with Accenture to survey small and mid-sized businesses in nine markets around the world, including Australia. Through a survey of 1,350 respondents across diverse industries, the results revealed four mega-trends that impact businesses pursuing digital transformation. These are: navigating digital customer demands, harnessing the power of data, supporting a transformed workforce and playing in the global marketplace.

“To navigate the new normal, many small and mid-sized companies have pivoted their businesses digitally,” said Mike Hooton, Head of Small Commercial and Middle Market Division for Chubb Insurance Australia Limited. “Embracing digital transformation can help companies survive and thrive, but it also comes with significant risk. From product liability to increased cyber security threats, Australian business owners need to review their risk mitigation plans to ensure they have the necessary protection in place as they seize digital opportunities.”

Specific digital business priorities and associated risks among the four trends include:

  • Navigating digital customer demands: approximately half of the respondents are focusing on seamless on-demand delivery of products;
  • Harnessing the power of data: adopting AI technology in processes is the top priority for Australian small to mid-sized businesses;
  • Supporting a transformed workforce: 77% of businesses are focused on providing flexible, remote work solutions; and
  • Thriving in the global market: 41% are prioritising offering products or services internationally.

Marianne Hutchinson, Insurance Lead for Australia at Accenture, said, “Following COVID-19, small and mid-sized businesses will look to embrace data and technology to grow, improve customer experience, operate more efficiently and become more flexible and resilient with digital processes and services. We’re excited to be collaborating with Chubb on new insights to support Australian businesses in a rapidly changing, digital future.”

To learn more about the report and how small and mid-sized businesses can assess their new digital business risk exposures and insurance needs, visit chubb.com/digitalbusiness/au

About Chubb

Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

#Chubb

Laos Confirms 46 New Cases of Covid-19

Covid-19 Update

Laos has confirmed 46 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,072.

Trend Micro Announces Next Generation ICS Endpoint Security Solution

Specially designed to provide cybersecurity without interruption to ICS environments

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 5 May 2021 – Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today announced a first-of-its-kind OT-native endpoint security solution, provided as part of its total security solution for smart factories. Developed by TXOne Networks, TXOne StellarProtectTM is designed to secure all OT endpoints, regardless of environmental conditions, for any mission-critical ICS environment.

The massive number of ICS endpoints in these working environments provides a large variety of attack surfaces, as they often include many unpatched or otherwise vulnerable devices. Disruption of these endpoints causes significant problems for manufacturers and can jeopardize the entire operation. According to the Trend Micro 2020 annual cybersecurity report, the manufacturing industry became a primary target for highly infectious ransomware attacks, making it more important than ever to secure these assets with technologies tailored to their purpose (https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/research-and-analysis/threat-reports/roundup/a-constant-state-of-flux-trend-micro-2020-annual-cybersecurity-report).

“The ugly truth of ICS endpoint security is that there has not been any security solution specifically designed for the high-availability needs of modernized equipment in the OT environment,” said Akihiko Omikawa, executive vice president of IoT security for Trend Micro and chairman of TXOne Networks. “Cybersecurity solutions for ICS endpoints must consider three elements to meet industry expectations: low impact to performance, zero interruption, and all-terrain protection.”

The unique needs of the shop floor environment create challenges to finding protections that secure the work site while still giving the necessary priority to performance. Traditional solutions, such as signature-based antivirus, can identify known threats but require constant internet connectivity and frequent updates, which is simply not possible for mission critical assets. Advanced machine learning-based solutions are able to identify anomalies and unknown threats quickly, but have a high rate of producing false positives that can easily interfere with operations. While application control or lockdown-based solutions are more streamlined and their trust list makes deployment straightforward, they also rigidly limit a machine to a specific purpose and so are only ideal for fixed-use systems. These single technology solutions serve many useful purposes, however are unable to provide the adaptivity necessary to both safeguard and accommodate the operational integrity of assets dedicated to production.

TXOne StellarProtectTM delivers uniquely ICS-native endpoint protection against both known and unknown malware via machine learning and ICS root of trust. To avoid redundant security scans and ensure minimal impact to performance, ICS root of trust collects over 1,000 ICS software certificates and licenses and verifies them in advance. StellarProtect requires no internet connection to defend against malware-free attacks due to its least privilege-based policies. Operational interruption from malicious attacks or even mis-operation by personnel is prevented by its built-in ICS application behavior learning engine.

“ICS endpoint security solutions must accommodate the needs of OT environments, not the other way around,” said Dr. Terence Liu, General Manager for TXOne Networks. ” TXOne StellarProtectTM is setting a new milestone for endpoint protection in ICS security. We look forward to helping customers mitigate cyber risk in their environments without any disruption or adjustments.”

To find out more about Trend Micro’s security solutions for the smart factory, please visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_hk/business/solutions/iot/smart-factory.html.

To find out more about TXOne StellarProtectTM, please visit: https://www.txone-networks.com/en-global/products/index/stellarprotect

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.trendmicro.com.hk

#TrendMicro

About TXOne Networks

TXOne Networks is an Industrial IoT joint venture of Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, and Moxa, a leader in industrial communication and networking. TXOne Networks offers adaptive solutions to secure industrial machinery, ensuring the safety and reliability of industrial control networks from cyberattacks. www.txone-networks.com

#TXOneNetworks

4ARTechnologies – Market Leader in Art Security and Digitization Develops the World’s First Secure NFT for Physical and Digital Artworks

ZUG, SWITZERLAND – Newsaktuell – 5 May 2021 – 4ARTechnologies, the market leader in art security and digitization announces the next sensation: “We give art creators and collectors the exclusive opportunity to create the world’s only secure NFT with our technology.” – CEO Niko Kipouros.

CryptoPunk 4ARTechnologies​. 4ARTechnologies – Market Leader in Art Security and Digitization Develops the World’s First Secure NFT for Physical and Digital Artworks ​

We are witnessing the next chapter in art history with NFTs- Beeple sold a digital work for nearly USD 70 million. Cryptopunks, initially generated for free, are now worth millions.

Experienced art & technology specialist 4ARTechnologies is now expanding its patented all-in-one solution for the highly complex NFT landscape. The technology has already brought a revolution for security, efficiency and transparency to the global art industry since 2019 and already accompanies challenging projects with leading institutions such as Munich RE, Ergo Insurance, AON and hasenkamp.

With the new expansion, the company offers the safest and easiest entry into the world of NFTs for any of the more than 25 million creating art players worldwide to swiftly position themselves in the new market and thereby profit in the long term.

Among the new unique features for the art market are: the innovative creation and securing of an NFT at the touch of a button, managing and presenting one’s own art collection in a dedicated virtual showroom for unparalleled and secure marketing and connecting popular blockchain protocols such as Ethereum and Tezos.

About 4ARTechnologies

With the goal of protecting the cultural heritage of art for future generations and bringing the global art market into the digital age, 4ARTechnologies is setting a new digital standard for the art world. The company combines the blockchain with its patented technology and offers all art world participants more transparency, security and efficiency.

https://www.4art-technologies.com/services

#4ARTechnologies

Experience a Special Loving Mother’s Day with JMC Wild Forest and Watoto

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 5 May 2021 – Local health food brand JMC Wild Forest collaborates with African childcare ministry organization Watoto, hoping to awaken the public’s attention to vulnerable women and orphans in Africa.

Jannie, the founder of JMC, hopes to awaken more people to care about the needs of disadvantaged women and children in Africa through the collaboration with Watoto.

JMC Wild Forest is a local shop in Hong Kong that offers delicious healthy and natural foods from Europe. The initial idea for Jannie to start JMC is originated from her experiences in sharing natural food from Europe with her family and friends. JMC Wild Forest travels to Europe and searches for products, bringing before Hong Kong and Macau people quality and reasonably priced natural products from Europe.

In addition to carefully operating a small store, JMC also pays great attention to social responsibility. Following the Christmas “Share the Joy · Love Donation” event in December 2020, part of the revenue during the event period has been donated to children from local grass-roots families to make their wishes come true. This year, JMC contributes their Hédène honey to join with Watoto to launch a Mother’s Day Gift Set, hoping to take this meaningful event to awaken more people to care about the needs of disadvantaged women and orphans in Africa and learn about Watoto’s ministry!

Caring for those in need

JMC Wild Forest has always dedicate their efforts to take care of customers, and they also understand that it should give back to the society.

Jannie, the founder of JMC, learned about the situation in Uganda from a friend and sighed with sadness. She hopes to make a contribution within her ability for the needy women and children in Uganda.

“Uganda is not a country that has attracted the attention of Hong Kong people. We may know that Uganda is a poor country, but we seldom know much about their real situation. Learning about Watoto’s different campaigns in Uganda, including Watoto Children’s Village, Neighbourhood Project, Sustainability Project, etc. to help thousands of women and children who have suffered from injustice, I am deeply moved,” shared Jannie.

Every year in the past, Watoto Children’s Choir would come to Hong Kong to perform, so that friends who did not know about Watoto could learn about Watoto’s ministry in Africa. Unfortunately, since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Choir was not able to visit. Therefore, on Mother’s Day this year, JMC is glad to launch a Mother’s Day Gift Set with Watoto, hoping to awaken everyone’s attention vulnerable African women and children. For every set sold in this event, JMC will donate a large part to Watoto for multiple purposes.

Uganda in Brief

Uganda is a landlocked country located in eastern Africa[1]. Here, there are countless single-parent women. Most of them have unfortunately contracted AIDS, were abandoned by their husbands, and were unable to raise their children due to severe financial burdens. [2] Most mothers are under 30 and have more than 3 children. Many children died of illness or hunger on the streets without being cared for.

Gender equality is not easy in Uganda. Women lack education and functional training, and often use temporary jobs to support their families. However, once they become pregnant, many men may not be able to take responsibility and just leave. Single mothers have to bear all the responsibilities of supporting the family. Even, we women regard it as a monthly affair, which is embarrassing for women in Africa. Many women cannot afford the monthly sanitary napkins, and can only sit on the sand during menstruation, secretly burying blood stains. [4]

Changing the lives of vulnerable women and orphans

Jannie, the founder of JMC, hopes to awaken more people to care about the needs of disadvantaged women and children in Africa through the cooperation with Watoto.

Watoto is committed to providing children in need to live in a safe and warm home, and to provide comprehensive care for these vulnerable orphans. They can enter the Watoto Children’s Village when they are about two years old and live with seven other brothers and sisters. Watoto also allows them to go to school and receive quality education. There are also clinics in the village to provide medical services.

The most marginalised and wounded people in Africa are women. Left abandoned or widowed, many victims of sex trafficking and HIV+, they are destitute fearing that their children will soon join the ranks of Africa’s countless orphans.

Through Watoto Neighbourhood, women who bear the brunt of these horrific injustices are supported with housing, healthcare support, employment and education for their children. As Watoto embrace them by meeting their essential needs and empower them to take care of their own families, the whole community is transforming as well.

Reference

[1] 烏干達,https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%83%8F%E5%B9%B2%E9%81%94

[2] 烏干達女性身影:單親是常態,我們一肩扛起童婚、貧窮與愛滋,https://www.google.com.hk/amp/s/womany.net/articles/13748/amp

[3] 她們需要被看見:在傳統觀念中被拋棄的烏干達單親媽媽/海外志工的在地觀察,https://npost.tw/archives/34683

[4]【月經之苦】非洲貧窮女孩沒有布衛生巾而輟學 只能坐在沙地上偷偷埋起血漬, https://topick.hket.com/article/2539903/

About JMC Wild Forest

JMC’s brand vision is brand vision is to lead a natural life. They strictly select each brand and product. What they choose and sell is the food we eat with someone they love every day. Their product requirements are 100% natural, no artificial additives such as colouring, preservatives or antibiotics, non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and made of wild or naturally and sustainably grown food.

At JMC Wild Forest, customers can find the Finnish berry powder from Arctic Power Berries, such as blackcurrant powder, blueberry powder, sea buckthorn powder, etc.; Poikain Parhaat’s freeze-dried berries with no additives from Finland; the symbol of French taste and gourmet – French Grand Cru Honey by Hédène that appears to great chefs in gastronomy including but not limited to: acacia honey from Burgundy, lavender honey from Luberon in Provence, rosemary honey from Languedoc in South France, etc.; and also a series of Gluten-free ingredients!

More about JMC Wild Forest: https://www.jmcwildforest.com

#JMCWildForest

About Watoto

Watoto is an holistic care programme that was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned Children and vulnerable women in Uganda. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nation.

More about Watoto Asia: https://www.watoto.asia

#Watoto

Christina Lasasimma Arrives in Florida to Compete in Miss Universe Pageant

Christina Lasasimma Arrives in Florida

Christina Lasasimma arrived in Florida, United States of America on Saturday to compete in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant.

Microsoft unveils immersive education solutions to inspire educators in reimagining learning experiences

  • New technological solutions including Reading Progress, Minecraft Education and Supervised Chat in Teams will support educators in keeping students engaged and safe in digital classrooms.
  • 71% of K-12 educators say technology has helped them improve their instruction and expanded their teaching capacity.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 May 2021 – Microsoft today introduced new technological tools and updates designed to support the 5 key areas educators require to create a holistic learning environment and move education forward: student centricity, skills focus, social learning, safety, security and scalability.

In partnership with YouGov, Microsoft found that 71% of K-12 educators felt technology has helped them improve their instruction and expanded their teaching capacity.[1] With the rise of digital classrooms and hybrid learning environments, Microsoft recognizes how crucial it is to help teachers find new ways to engage students remotely. New tools and solutions launched include Reading Progress, to enhance students reading skills remotely, and features like Group Assignments and third-party app integrations in Microsoft Teams that will empower educators and support students in their classroom experience. Other updates include the availability of Minecraft: Education Edition outside the classroom and the launch of Reflect, a Microsoft Teams app that provides teachers with capabilities that support their students’ well-being virtually.

“We are grateful for the resilience and commitment educators have displayed in evolving their teaching styles over the past year, and we aim to keep supporting them to deliver quality education for their students during these challenging times. At the beginning of the pandemic technology often served as a much-needed lifeline between students, teachers, and parents enabling remote and hybrid learning. As time moved forward many educators transformed their teaching, their pedagogy, their professional development, and more, with technology often being a critical component enabling that change. Innovation will continue to transform learning experiences and stands to help prepare students for their futures – we are honored to partner with educators and schools across Asia in our mission to help every student on the planet achieve more,” said Larry Nelson, Regional General Manager, Education, Microsoft Asia.


Enabling student-centered learning with Reading Progress

Studies show that reading skills have declined for some students due to the pandemic. To reverse learning loss, educators are seeking ways to evaluate their students’ progress, and help them advance at their own pace. With this in mind, Microsoft is introducing Reading Progress, a free tool designed to support readers who are learning a new language or educators trying to raise students’ general comprehension.

With Reading Progress, educators can:

  • Save time by creating reading fluency assignments for either the entire class or for individual students to complete independently. Teachers can also review assignments with built-in auto-detect features for English language that analyze results and jump to any part of the recording to review detected words and passages.
  • Visualize reading progress with a holistic view of data and insights, including accuracy rate and actionable feedback useful for guiding class progress.
  • Engage students in independent practice on their own time where students can work at their own pace, record as many times as they like, and make progress without pressure.

Available prior to the next school year, Reading Progress is free for all students and teachers using Microsoft Teams for Education, and is compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

New tools to support student engagement in the classroom

Microsoft is also enhancing Teams and other tools to help educators unlock digital experiences that complement and enrich in-person learning. These new free offerings will be available ahead of the next school year and were inspired by insights from education experts, system leaders, educators, and students alike.

  • Group assignments: Educators can now organize their students into assignment groups so they can work together to create, collaborate, and submit the same work.
  • Use your favorite apps in Assignments: Teachers will now be able to issue assignments from a variety of third-party apps directly in Teams, saving time and increasing student creativity.
  • Calendar integrations: New calendar integrations allow students to see when their classes are and when assignments are due in the Teams and Outlook calendars – all in one place.
  • Learning Management System (LMS) Updates: Microsoft is working with LMS providers such as Instructure and Blackboard to improve integrations between LMS and Microsoft Teams, Teams meetings, and OneDrive, providing a more seamless experience for educators.

Making learning more engaging and fun

Educators are recognizing how pivotal immersive experiences can be to engage students on a deeper level. To support them in seeking different ways to keep students actively engaged, Microsoft is releasing new features to Minecraft: Education Edition. This will provide more opportunities for students to play and learn in the classroom and out.

  • Integrating Minecraft Education Edition with Teams and Flipgrid: Educators can now embed a Flipgrid topic, Forms quiz, or assessment tool using new Resource links within a Minecraft world or lesson. Students on the other hand, can open a Flipgrid Topic, record and share their creation, and invite others to join a world they have created—with just a few clicks.
  • Minecraft Education Edition for Camps and Clubs: Beginning this summer, camps, clubs, homeschool organizations, and nonprofits can purchase licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition to support critical thinking, collaboration, and game-based learning for all ages outside of the classroom.

Supporting student well-being

Emotional well-being is key to student success and research shows that approaches to support student well-being are in high demand, but low supply.[2] New tools to equip educators with the ability to understand the complexities students face, and their emotional state, as they guide them in navigating the challenges of today have also been introduced.

  • Reflect, a free app in Microsoft Teams, provides a way for educators to create regular check-ins in with individual students or classes to share how they are feeling, and help learners better understand how their emotions may impact their learning.
  • Embedded tools in OneNote and Teams, such as praise badges and sticker packs, help students and educators feel more connected and foster the growth of effective relationships.

These will be critical in helping build students’ confidence and enabling educators to facilitate valuable learning conversations in and beyond the classroom.

Enabling safe and secure classrooms

Lastly, with more learning taking place outside the physical school, the increase in digital traffic and the number of connected devices brings new challenges: from malicious attacks to uninvited guests in the digital classroom.

To ensure students’ safety in digital and physical spaces, Microsoft is launching Supervised Chat in Teams. Available later this month, this feature allows designated educators to initiate chats with students, while preventing students from starting new chats unless an appropriate educator is present — meaning students can engage in safe discussions.

For more information on the latest features, please see here.



[1]“Learning Forward” Teacher/Student YouGov Survey commissioned by Microsoft, December 2020

[2]Emotion and Cognition in the Age of AI,”The Economist Intelligence Unit

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.